Lamp shade construction



Jan. 16, 1968 s. R. WITZ 3,364,349

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Jan. 16, 1968 s. R. wrrz LAMP SHADE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 12, 1965 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,364,349 LAMP SHADE CONSTRUCTION Sidney R. Witz, 232 N. Arden Blvd, Los Angeles, Calif. 90004 Filed Apr. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 447,125 5 Claims. (Cl. 240-108) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Lamp shade structure comprising elongated fluted members which are preferably flexible and resilient, mounted on spaced supporting rings, and decorative members, which are also preferably flexible and resilient, positioned on the outer surface of a plurality of such elongated members and having a contour mating with the outer surfaces of such elongated members, and means for removably mounting the elongated members and the decorative members on the supporting rings, providing a versatile lamp shade structure which can be readily assembled in different configurations and designs, and readily disassembled.

This invention relates to a novel lamp shade structure, and is particularly concerned with a lamp shade formed of a plurality of separate members which are removably and interchangeably mountable on rings together, if desired, with removable and interchangeable decorative members, thus inexpensively providing a variety of lamp shade structures and designs which are selectively afforded the user.

It is an object of the invention to provide a lamp shade structure which can be packaged and marketed in a disassembled form and which is composed of a plurality of separate elements which can be readily assembled to form a lamp shade.

Another object is the provision of a relatively simple lamp shade construction, the shade being formed of a plurality of contiguous elongated members which are individually mountable and demountable from a supporting means or members, so that various shapes and forms of such elongated members can be so mounted to provide lamp shades of different shapes and designs at the option of the user.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of decorative elements of appropriate design which can be mated with the outer surface of the various above noted elongated members, and removably mounted on the lamp shade as desired, forming a lamp shade having a decorative design.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of the invention.

According to one embodiment of the invention a lamp shade construction is provided comprising a pair of spaced parallel rings. A multiplicity of separate, flexible and resilient elongated members are mounted on and positioned around the outer periphery of the rings, said elongated members each being flexed so that the opposite longitudinal edges thereof are urged toward each other. Means, e.g. in the form of slots and cooperating apertures, are provided for removably mounting one end portion of each of said elongated members in its flexed position on one of the rings, and similar means is provided for removably mounting the other end portion of each of the elongated members in the flexed position on the other ring. The elongated members extend longitudinally of the rings and are at least coextensive with the longitudinal distance between the rings. The elongated members are each disposed contiguous to adjacent ones of said elongated members, the opposite longitudinal edges of each of the elongated members abutting the adjacent longitudinal edges of adjacent elongated members. The outward tension along the longitudinal edges of the abutting adjacent elongated members so mounted on the rings, maintains the elongated members in flexed position on such rings.

According to another feature of the invention flexible resilient decorative members are positioned on the outer surface of a plurality of the elongated members, such decorative members being substantially coextensive with the elongated members in the transverse direction thereof. The decorative members are each flexed so that the opposite ends thereof which lie transversely of the elongated members, are urged toward each other and have a contour mating with the outer flexed surface of a longitudinal member around which it is positioned. Means for removably mounting the opposite ends of each of said decorative members in the flexed position thereof on one of the rings between adjacent longitudinal edges of adjacent elongated members is provided. Such means also can be in the form of slots and cooperating apertures in the opposite end portions of such decorative members for receiving the ring on which the decorative members are mounted.

If desired, suitable clamp means for further securing the elongated members on the rings, and also the decorative members when employed, can also be provided.

By means of the invention structure selectively different shapes and designs of lamp shades can readily be provided in an interchangeable manner, using the same mounting or ring means for such various lamp shades. Employing the flexed elongated members and mounting them in the flexed position on the ring means according to the invention in effect provides a fluted lamp shade, the individual elongated members being fluted members which extend outwardly from the supporting rings and hence are spaced outwardly therefrom. The elongated or fluted removable members forming the lamp shade can be of any desired contour or shape e.g. in the form of hemispheres, triangles, or they can be trapezoidal in shape. Such elongated or fluted members can be formed of any flexible material and which is also preferably resilient. Preferably the elongated or fluted members forming a lamp shade are of a translucent material and which can be easily cleaned with water or other cleaning solutions when positioned on the supporting rings, or after removal of the elongated members from the supporting rings.

According to still further embodiments, the elongated members and/or the decorative members need not be flexible and resilient, but can be preshaped as desired and assembled on the supporting rings, e.g. in the manner described above. Also, a plurality of spacers can be mounted around the supporting rings to maintain the elongated members and/or the decorative members in proper position around the rings, with adjacent edge portions of adjacent elongated members disposed closely together to prevent passage of light from the lamp outwardly between said adjacent edge portions.

The invention will be more clearly understood by ref erence to the description below of certain preferred embodiments, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a lamp shade construction according to the invention, mounted on a lamp base;

FIG. 2 is a plan View taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2, along one of the flexed elongated or fluted members mounted on the lamp rings;

FIG. 4 is a detail showing the abutment of the adjacent longitudinal edges of adjacent elongated or fluted members, viewed from the interior of the lamp shade construction, and taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view in elevation of one of the flexible resilient elongated members in its flat or unflexed position;

FIG. 6 is a plan View of the elongated member of FIG. 5, showing in phantom the flexed position of such member;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail of the upper end of one of the flexed elongated members shown mounted on a ring and including a clip means for further securing same on the ring;

FIG. 8 is a plan view taken on line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the clip means shown in FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 10 shows a modification incorporating difierent decorative members on opposite end portions of the flexed elongated members;

FIG. 11 is a plan view taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 shows one of the decorative members employed in the modification of FIG. 10, said decorative member being in the flat unflexed position;

FIG. 13 illustrates another form of the invention employing elongated or flute members of modified shape; and

FIG. 14 shows a modification employing spacers on the supporting ring or rings, and showing elongated members having recessed edge portions to receive opposite edge portions of the decorative members.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing there is shown a lamp shade 10 constructed according to the invention mounted on a lamp base 11. Referring now also to FIG. 2 of the drawing the lamp shade 10 comprises generally a multiplicity of separate elongated fluted members 12 which are mounted on an upper ring 14 and a lower ring 16, both positioned on a common axis, the lower ring in the present embodiment having a diameter somewhat larger than the upper ring. The elongated fluted members 12 are disposed contiguously around the outside of the rings, and since the lower ring is of greater diameter than the upper ring, there is a slight upward taper t0 the lamp shade, as indicated in FIG. 1. The upper ring carries a plurality of radial arms 18, shown as three in number in FIG. 2, connected to a central hub which is centrally apertured to receive a conventional supporting rod (not shown) connected to the lamp base for properly supporting the lamp shade 10 on the base 11 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring now also to FIGS. 3 to 5 of the drawing, each of the separate elongated fluted members 12 is formed from a substantially rectangular flexible and resilient translucent flat plastic sheet 12a as shown in FIG. 5. Such sheet can be formed of any suitable flexible plastic such as polystyrene or polyvinyl, resin and which may be translucent or relatively opaque, as desired. Although any suitable plastic can be employed, other materials also can be used such as a suitable paper. The flat flexible sheet or member 12a has a first pair of transverse aligned slots 22 formed adjacent one end of the elongated member, each of said slots extending from the opposite longitudinal edges 24 of the flat elongated member 12a, transversely inward for a limited or relatively short distance and terminating in an aperture 26. There is also provided, adjacent the other end of each of elongated members'12a, a second pair of transverse aligned slots 28 each extending from the opposite longitudinal edges 24 of the member transversely inward for a limited distance about equal to the length of the upper slots, the lower slots also each terminating in an aperture 30. A notch 32 is provided at the entrance to each of slots 22 a and 28, as best seen in FIG. 7, to aid in passing the rings 14 and 16 into such slots, as described below.

To mount the elongated flat sheet members 12a on the mounting rings 14 and 16 of the lamp shade, such elongated members are each flexed longitudinally so that the opposite longitudinal edges are urged toward each other, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6, to form the flexed fluted members 12. While maintained in the hand in this flexed position, the respective elongated members 12 are each mounted on the supporting rings by passing the upper ring 14 through the upper aligned slots 22 of the flexed elongated member and into the apertures 26 at the inner ends of such slots, as seen particularly in FIGS. 3 and 7 of the drawings. Likewise, the lower ring 16 is passed through the lower aligned slots 28 of the flexed elongated members 12 until the ring is received in the inner apertures 30 at the inner terminal ends of such slots, again as illustrated particularly in FIGS. 3 and 7. When the upper and lower rings are received in the opposite upper apertures 26 and in the opposite lower apertures 30 of each of these flexed elongated members, such members are held relatively securely in position on rings as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawing. It will also be noted from FIG. 2 that the flexed or fluted elongated members 12 mounted on the ring are each disposed contiguous to adjacent fluted or elongated members, the opposite longitudinal edge portions 34 of each of such flexed elongated members abutting the adjacent longitudinal edge portions 34 of the adjacent elongated members, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, and as result of the spring tension in these flexed members, which tends to urge them outwardly back to their original flat position, the adjacent or contiguous flexed or fluted members are forced to maintain their flexed position on the rings, as indicated particularly in FIG. 2. When desired, the flexed or fluted members can be removed readily from the mounting rings simply by pulling the respective members outwardly with the fingers with suflicient force to cause the rings to be displaced from the aligned upper and the aligned lower apertures 26 and 30, and to be withdrawn through the respective upper and lower slots 22 and 28 of such members.

Thus it is seen that the invention structure permits selective assembly and disassarnbly of the elongated or fluted members 12 from the mounting rings 14 and 16, for example, either to clean such elongated members or to substitute such elongated members with others of a different color or design so as to provide a variety of color designs and/or shapes of lamp shades, as desired by the user. It is also particularly noteworthy that not only is the fluted design of the lamp shade construction of a pleasing nature, but because the flexed or fluted elongated members 12 are disposed around the outer periphery of the mounting rings and are spaced particularly at their outer curved extremities 36 a distance from the respective rings, when employing translucent fluted members and the lamp is turned on, the respective upper and lower rings are not visible to the viewer.

Although not necessary, as a further feature of the invention, there are also provided a series of bowed clamps or clips 38 shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 of the drawing, for further securing the elongated or fluted members in flexed position thereof on the mounting rings. Such bowed clips are of V-shaped configuration and having a pair of arms 40 terminating at their outer end in hooks 42. Each of such clips is operatively mounted by urging the open end 44 of the clips between adjacent longitudinal edge portions 34 of adjacent flexible or fluted members 12, as seen in FIG. 8, and securing the hooks of the clip over the ring, for example, the upper ring 14 of the assembly, so as to secure the hooks in position, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. The bent central portion 46 of the clip rests substantially in contact with the outer adjacent edge portions 34 of the flexible member, as seen in FIG. 8, and is inclined downward from the outer hooks 42 to the inner bent portion 46 of the clip intersecting the respective upper slots 22 of the adjacent elongated members. In this manner the clips chiefly are in frictional engagement with the adjacent edge portions 34 of the adjacent longitudinal members 12, and maintain same in more secure position on the rings.

The fluted or elongated members can, if desired, have a suitable design placed thereon, for example, at their upper and lower ends, as indicated at 48 and 50 in FIG. 1, which may be printed, embossed or applied in any other suitable manner to the plastic or other form of material of which the elongated members 12 are made. However, as a further feature of the invention, the elongated members such as 12 are plain, that is undecorated, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, and separate interchangeable decorative members are provided which can be positioned on the outer surface of any number or all of the flexed elongated members 12, and mounted at the upper or lower ends of such members, as described below.

Thus, referring now to FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 of the drawing, diflerent separate decorative members 52 and 54 of this type can be mounted around the upper and lower ends of the elongated fluted members 12. These decorative members, such as 52, shown in flat form in FIG. 12, can be a flexible resilient member of a particular shape and design, e.g. scalloped, as indicated at 56. Such decorative member is substantially coextensive in length with the transverse dimension of the elongated members 12 as shown in flat or extended form at 12a in FIG. 5. The decorative member 52, as seen in FIG. 12, has a pair of opposite aligned slots 58 each extending from the opposite ends of the decorative member inward for a limited, and relatively short distance, similar to the length of the upper and lower slots 22 and 28 of the elongated flexible member shown at 12a in FIG. 5, each of such slots of the decorative member terminating in an aperture 60, and being notched at 62 at the entrance to these slots.

For assembling the decorative members such as the member 52 shown in FIG. 12, around the elongated fluted members as shown in FIG. 10, the decorative member is flexed from its flat position shown in FIG. 12 an amount approximately equal to the flexing of the elongated fluted members 12, so that it has a contour mating with the outer flexed surface of such longitudinal members, and the slots 58 at opposite ends of the flexed decorative members are urged against one of the rings for example, the upper ring 14 of the assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The ring is passed through the slots and is received in the apertures 60 at the terminals of such slots and holding the decorative member in position on the ring in the same manner that the elongated fluted members 12 are held in position on the rings, as described above and shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 of the drawing. In the operative flexed position of such decorative members as illustrated in FIG. 11, the edge portions 64 of each of such decorative members is positioned on the ring between adjacent longitudinal edge portions 34 of adjacent elongated or fluted members, and the adjacent edge portions 64 of adjacent decorative members 52 are urged into physical contact against each other, as in the case of the adjacent elongated or fluted members 12 as shown in FIG. 2.

Decorative members of a difierent shape or design, such as members 54 can then be assembled in a similar manner around the bottom ends of the fluted or elongated members as illustrated in FIG. 10, and secured in the manner described above to the lower ring 16 of the lamp assembly.

It will be understood that although fluted or flexed elongated members having an essentially hemispherical shape are the preferred forms of the fluted members, elongated or fluted members of different shape and also removably mounted on the lamp ring means in the manner described above can be employed. Thus, referring to FIG. 13, there is shown a series of V-shaped elongated members 66 which terminate at their outer portions in a relatively sharp outer longitudinal edge 68. V-shaped members 66 also include slots and apertures adjacent their longitudinal edges 70 similar to those of the flexible elongated members shown at 12a in FIG. 5, for mounting on the upper and lower rings of the lamp shade assembly, in a manner described above with respect to the elongated members 12. Where the V-shaped elongated members 66 are of a resilient material, as in the case of the elongated members 12, the adjacent outer edges 70 of the adjacent V-shaped members, when assembled on the rings as illustrated in FIG. 13, are urged against each other, so that the adjacent elongated members 66 of the lamp shade structure illustrated in FIG. 13, form a continuous fluted structure around the lamp rings with substantially no openings therebetween, as in the case of the hemispherically shaped elongated members 12 as illustrated in FIG. 2. Thus, in effect, as in the case of the lamp shade structure of FIG. 2, the lamp shade of FIG. 13 appears to the viewer as being a unitary lamp shade formed of a plurality of the fluted members 12 or 66.

It will also be understood that the fluted members employed need not be flexible or resilient members. Thus, for example, in the embodiment of FIG. 13, the V- shaped elongated fluted members 66 can be formed of a non-resilient material and such fluted members formed into a permanent V-shape so that the adjacent outer edge portions of the adjacent fluted members, although placed in contact with each other as illustrated in FIG. 13, are not actually resiliently urged against each other. Hence, it will be understood that elongated fluted members of various shapes also can be formed of non-resilient materials and preformed into the desired fluted shape, such as the fluted shapes illustrated at both 12 and 66 in FIGS. 2 and 13.

FIG. 14 shows still a further modification of the invention. According to this modification longitudinally split tubular arcuate segments 72, preferably of a plastic material are placed about each of the rings, the length of these tubular plastic segments being approximately equal to the distance between adjacent opposite edge portions 34 of each of the fluted members 12 mounted on the rings, e.g. 14. The distance between the adjacent ends of the tubular segments is just suflicient for insertion therebetween of adjacent edge portions 34 of the elongated members 12, and also of adjacent edge portions 64 of adjacent decorative members, for example, of the type 52 shown in FIG. 12, Where such decorative members are to be employed.

In this modification the opposite edge portions 34 of elongated members 12 and including the opposite aligned slots 22 and the terminal apertures 26 therein, are recessed as shown at 74 so as to receive the adjacent end portions 64 of decorative members such as 52 which are incorporated on the rings over members 12, as described above and illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11.

The above noted modification of FIG. 14 incorporating the split tubular segments and also the recessed edge portions of the elongated fluted members for receiving the edges of the decorative members, both aid in securing tight engagement of adjacent edge portions of adjacent fluted members and also of adjacent decorative members where employed, to substantially close the space between the respective fluted members and prevent transmission of light therethrough.

Although as described above and illustrated in the drawing, the preferred means for mounting the elongated or flutted members such as 12 and also the decorative members such as 52 on the lamp mounting means or rings, comprise slots with cooperating apertures, e.g. as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 12, it will be understood that other suitable means can be provided on the elongated and decorative members for removably mounting such members on the mounting means or rings.

Further, although the ring mounting means 14 and 16 for the lamp shade embodiments described above and shown in the drawing are of substantially circular configuration, if desired, such rings can be formed of other shapes such as square or rectangular rings. Also, more than two parallel mounting rings spaced from each other can be employed, for example, three such rings can be used, and also the rings employed for mounting the elongated fluted members can all have the same diameter or different diameters as illustrated in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 above.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the invention provides a simple inexpensive lamp shade structure of a highly versatile nature, which can be assembled by the user to provide lamp shades of diflerent configurations and designs and readily disassembled when desired. In the disassembled form the components of the lamp shade construction including the rings and the elongated or fluted members substantially in the flat form as illustrated in FIG. 5, can be packaged in a flat box requiring a minimum of space, and also when the user wishes to disassemble the lamp and store the lamp, the components again can be replaced in the same box.

While I have described particular embodiments of my invention for the purpose of illustration, it should be understood that various modifications and adaptations thereof may be made within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

'I claim:

1. A lamp shade construction comprising a plurality of spaced parallel rings, a multiplicity of separate, elongated members mounted on and positioned around the outer periphery of said rings, means for removably mounting each of said elongated members on said rings, said elongated members extending longitudinally of said rings and being at least co-extensive with the longitudinal distance between said rings, said elongated members each being disposed contiguous to adjacent ones of said elongated members, and a decorative member positioned on the outer surface of a plurality of said elongated members, said decorative members being substantially coextensive with said elongated members transversely thereof, said decorative members each having a contour mating with the outer surface of a longitudinal member around which it is positioned, and means for removably mounting said opposite ends of each of said decorative members on one of said rings between adjacent longitudinal edges of adjacent elongated members.

2. A lamp shade construction comprising a pair of spaced parallel rings, a multiplicity of separate, flexible and resilient elongated members mounted on and positioned around the outer periphery of said rings, said elongated members each being flexed so that the opposite longitudinal edges thereof are urged toward each other, means for removably mounting one end portion of each of said elongated members in said flexed position on one of said rings, and means for removably mounting the other end portion of each of said elongated members in said flexed position on said other ring, said elongated members extending longitudinally of said rings and being at least coextensive with the longitudinal distance between said rings, said elongated members each being disposed contiguous to adjacent ones of said elongated members, and collectively forming a fluted lamp shade, the

opposite longitudinal edges of each of said flexed elongatedmembers abutting the adjacent longitudinal edges of adjacent elongated members and maintaining said members in flexed position on said rings, and a flexible resilient decorative member positioned on the outer surface of a plurality of said elongated members, said decorative members being substantially coextensive with said elongated members transversely thereof, said decorative members each being flexed so that the opposite ends thereof transversely of said elongated members are urged toward each other and have a contour mating with the outer flexed surface of a longitudinal member around which it is positioned, and means for removably mounting said opposite ends of each of said decorative members in said flexed position thereof on one of said rings between adjacent longitudinal edges of adjacent elongated members.

3. A lamp shade construction comprising a pair of spaced parallel rings disposed on a common axis, one of said rings having a diameter greater than the other ring, a multiplicity of essentially rectangular, separate, flexible and resilient, translucent elongated members mounted on and positioned around the outer periphery of said rings, said elongated members each being flexed longitudinally so that the opposite longitudinal edges are urged toward each other, a first pair of transverse aligned slots adjacent one end of each of said elongated members, each of said slots extending from the opposite longitudinal edges transversely inward for a limited distance and terminating in an aperture, a second pair of transverse aligned slots adjacent the other end of each of said elongated members, said last mentioned slots each extending from the opposite longitudinal edges transversely inward for a limited distance and terminating in an aperture, the aligned slots and apertures adjacent one end of each of said elongated members receiving one of said rings, and V the aligned slots and apertures adjacent the other end of each of said elongated members receiving said other ring,

for mounting said elongated members in the flexed posi tion on said rings as aforesaid, said elongated members each being disposed contiguous to adjacent ones of said elongated members in flexed position on said rings, said contiguous elongated members forming a fluted lamp shade positioned on the outer side and essentially spaced from said rings, and a flexible resilent decorative member positioned on the outer surface of a plurality of said elongated members, said decorative members being substantially coextensive with said elongated members transversely thereof, said decorative members each being flexed so that the opposite ends thereof transversely of said elongated members are urged toward each other and have a contour mating with the outer flexed surface of a longitudinal member around which it is positioned, a pair of opposite aligned slots each extending from said opposite ends of each of said decorative members inward for a limited distance and terminating in an aperture, said pair of opposite aligned slots and apertures of said decorative members receiving one of said rings for mounting said decorative members in the flexed position on said ring between adjacent longitudinal edges of adjacent elongated members.

4. A lamp shade construction as defined in claim 3, the edge portions of said elongated members including said slots and apertures therein being recessed to receive the end portions of said decorative members.

5. A lamp shade construction comprising a plurality of spaced parallel rings, a multiplicity of separate, elongated members mounted on and positioned around the outer periphery of said rings, a first pair of transverse aligned slots adjacent one end of each of said elongated members, each of said slots extending from the opposite longitudinal edges transversely inward for a limited distance and terminating in an aperture, a second pair of transverse aligned slots adjacent the other end of each of said elongated members, said last mentioned slots each extending from the opposite longitudinal edges transversely inward for a limited distance and terminating in an aperture, the aligned slots and apertures adjacent one end of each of said elongated members receiving one of said rings, and the aligned slots and apertures adjacent the other end of each of said elongated members receiving said other ring, for mounting said elongated members on said rings as aforesaid, said elongated members each being disposed contiguous to adjacent ones of said elongated members on said rings, said contiguous elongated members forming a fluted lamp shade positioned on the outer side and essentially spaced from said rings, with adjacent longitudinal edge portions of adjacent elongated members disposed inwardly of said rings, and clamps securing said longitudinal edge portions of adjacent elongated members together, each of said clamps having a. pair of substantially parallel arms connected together by a bend to form a closed end, the opposite end of said clamp between said arms being open, said arms at said open end of said clamp terminating in a hook, said open end of said hook receiving said adjacent longitudinal edge portions of adjacent elongated members between the arms of said clamp, and said hook being secured over one of said rings, the closed bent end of said References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1933 Proyenzano 240-108 3/1940 Schwarz 240--108 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

10 M. H. HAYES, Assistant Examiner. 

